Erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus

Abstract

An erosion control blanket dispensing method and apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus preferably includes, a rotary drive secured to a mounting plate, and a blanket spindle secured to the rotary drive. In a preferred embodiment, the rotary drive controls an angular position of the blanket spindle relative to the mounting plate. The erosion control dispensing apparatus further preferably includes, a spindle support structure disposed between the rotary drive and the blanket spindle, and an adjustable stop disposed between the spindle support structure and the blanket spindle, wherein the adjustable stop controls an angular position of the blanket spindle relative to the spindle support structure. A method of assembling the apparatus preferably includes at least the steps of providing a mounting plate, attaching a hydraulic rotary actuator to the mounting plate, securing a spindle support structure to the hydraulic rotary actuator, and affixing a blanket spindle to the spindle support structure.

1. An erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a mounting plate; 
 a rotary drive secured to the mounting plate; and 
 a blanket spindle communicating with and responsive to the rotary drive, wherein the rotary drive controls an angular radial position of the blanket spindle relative to the mounting plate. 
 
   
   
     2. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spindle support structure disposed between and communicating with the rotary drive and the blanket spindle; and 
 an adjustable stop disposed between the spindle support structure and the blanket spindle, wherein the adjustable stop controls an angular position of the blanket spindle relative to the spindle support structure. 
 
   
   
     3. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a rotary hub assembly disposed between the blanket spindle and the spindle support structure; wherein the adjustable stop is secured to the rotary hub assembly. 
   
   
     4. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a collet disposed between the rotary hub assembly and the blanket spindle, wherein the collet is attached to the rotary hub assembly, and in which the blanket spindle is removably attached to the collet. 
   
   
     5. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a stop plate communicating with the blanket spindle, the stop plate mitigating lateral movement of an erosion control blanket loaded on the blanket spindle. 
   
   
     6. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a self-locking pin removably secured to the blanket spindle and interacting with the stop plate to maintain the stop plate in abutting adjacency with the erosion control blanket. 
   
   
     7. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 6 , in which the spindle support structure comprising:
 a securement flange provided at a proximal end of the main body portion and attached to the rotary drive; and 
 a bushing assembly attached to a distal end of the main body portion and interacting with the rotary hub assembly to promote angular rotation of the blanket spindle relative to the main body portion. 
 
   
   
     8. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 7 , in which the rotary hub assembly comprising:
 a side wall communicating with the bushing assembly; 
 a first horizontal support brace secured to the side wall; 
 a casing secured to the first horizontal support brace; 
 a bearing mounted within the casing; 
 a rotatable shaft communicating with the bearing, the rotatable shaft free to rotate relative to the casing; and 
 an attachment flange secured to the rotatable shaft, wherein the attachment flange is secured to the collet to promote rotation of the blanket spindle relative to the casing. 
 
   
   
     9. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the rotary drive comprising:
 an attachment plate secured to the mounting plate; and 
 an electric motor secured to the attachment plate. 
 
   
   
     10. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the rotary drive comprising:
 an attachment plate secured to the mounting plate; and 
 a pneumatic motor secured to the attachment plate. 
 
   
   
     11. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the rotary drive comprising:
 an attachment plate secured to the mounting plate; and 
 a hydraulic rotary actuator secured to the attachment plate. 
 
   
   
     12. The erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a spindle support structure disposed between and communicating with the hydraulic rotary actuator and the erosion blanket spindle; 
 an adjustable stop disposed between the spindle support structure and the blanket spindle, wherein the adjustable stop controls an angular position of the blanket spindle relative to the spindle support structure; 
 a rotary hub assembly disposed between the blanket spindle and the spindle support structure, in which the adjustable stop is secured to the rotary hub assembly; 
 a collet disposed between the rotary hub assembly and the blanket spindle, wherein the collet is attached to the rotary hub assembly and the blanket spindle is removably attached to the collet; 
 a stop plate communicating with the blanket spindle, the stop plate mitigating lateral movement of an erosion control blanket; and 
 a self-locking pin removably secured to the blanket spindle and interacting with the stop plate to maintain the stop plate in abutting adjacency with the erosion control blanket. 
 
   
   
     13. A method of assembling an erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus by steps comprising:
 providing a mounting plate; 
 attaching a hydraulic rotary actuator to the mounting plate; 
 securing a spindle support structure to the hydraulic rotary actuator; 
 affixing a blanket spindle to the spindle support structure; 
 mounting a rotary hub assembly to the spindle support structure; and 
 fastening a collet to the rotary hub assembly. 
 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 13 , by a step further comprising:
 providing a mounting aperture in the mounting plate and a corresponding securement aperture in an attachment plate of the hydraulic rotary actuator. 
 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 14 , in which the step of attaching the hydraulic rotary actuator to the mounting plate comprising:
 aligning the mounting aperture with the securement aperture; and 
 securing the attachment plate to the mounting plate. 
 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 14 , in which the step of securing a spindle support structure to the hydraulic rotary actuator comprising:
 attaching a gusset to a main body portion of the spindle support structure; 
 attaching a securement flange to the gusset and the main body portion; 
 affixing a top flange to the gusset and the securement flange; 
 securing a bottom flange to a lower end of the hydraulic rotary actuator; 
 joining the top flange to an upper end of the hydraulic rotary actuator; and 
 linking the securement flange to the bottom flange. 
 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 13 , in which the step of affixing the blanket spindle to the spindle support structure comprising:
 affixing a bushing assembly to the spindle support structure; 
 securing a rotary hub assembly to the bushing assembly; 
 mounting an attachment flange to the rotary hub assembly; 
 fastening a collet to the attachment flange; and 
 attaching the blanket spindle to the collet for rotation of the blanket spindle relative to the spindle support structure. 
 
   
   
     18. A combination comprising:
 a mounting plate; 
 a hydraulic rotary actuator secured to the mounting plate; and 
 a blanket spindle secured to the hydraulic rotary actuator by steps for assembling an erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus, the steps for assembling an erosion control blanket dispensing apparatus are steps comprising:
 providing a mounting plate; 
 attaching a hydraulic rotary actuator to the mounting plate; 
 securing a spindle support structure to the hydraulic rotary actuator; 
 affixing a blanket spindle to the spindle support structure mounting a rotary hub assembly to the spindle support structure; 
 fastening a blanket collet to the rotary hub assembly; 
 providing a mounting aperture in the mounting plate and a corresponding securement aperture in an attachment plate of the hydraulic rotary actuator; 
 aligning the mounting aperture with the securement aperture; and 
 securing the attachment plate to the mounting plate.